Klitschko warns Crimea of ethnic cleansing

KYIV (QHA) -

Ukraine’s presidential candidate and former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko has warned of a humanitarian crisis in Crimea, Novinite reports.

“Crimea is today on the brink of a humanitarian disaster. The Ukrainian citizens there are left at the mercy of foreign occupiers and local criminals. There is also a risk of ethnic cleansing. Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians and all patriots of Ukraine are threatened”, Klitschko said after Sunday’s referendum in the autonomous region.

Despite Crimea’s decision to join the Russian Federation, Klitschko has revealed that Kiev does not plan to cut off energy supplies and support to the region, Euronews reports.

The former world heavyweight boxing champion and leading activist in the Maidan protests is tipped by some as one of the favorites to win the presidential elections in May.